"Handicapping" ourselves

It seems that many of us these days want to claim "handicapped" status. Please don't misinterpret what I am saying. I believe there are legitimate handicaps out there that should be supported with tax revenue etc. What I am talking about is the desire in our society to claim some type of handicap status as an excuse for why we can't move forward. I see it in my office from time to time. People who want to label themselves as a environmental intolerant, fibromyalgia patient, depressive or etc you name it. Why are we so willing to claim a disease state and then latch onto it for all the potential benefits it can afford.

I often talk with my patients about referring to themselves as they want to be. Another words not calling themselves a depressed patient when what they really want to be is happy and whole.

Maybe we should all think about the ways in which we are handicapping ourselves by labeling ourselves in ways that are not helpful and actually detrimental. I hope you will consider how you are buying into our "handicapping" culture and decide to become fully functional in your emotional, physical and chemical life.